Dementia diagnosis and new drugs improve patient outlook

Advances in diagnostic tests and new drugs are improving the outlook for dementia patients. Alzheimer’s disease remains the most prevalent form of dementia, representing up to 70 per cent of global cases.

Genetic testing can identify specific pathogenic variations, such as mutations in the Presenilin 1 (PSEN1) gene, which are linked to early-onset Alzheimer’s. For individuals with these determinative mutations, the onset of the disease is certain, though the timing varies.